Soccer Jamboree Set Monday -- Coaches Talking About Quality

November 24, 1985|By Herky Cush of The Sentinel Staff

Quality, both individual and team, will be a byword when Seminole County soccer boys teams hit the field this coming season.

That campaign begins Monday at Lake Mary High School when all county teams will take part in a pre-season jamboree. The jamboree begins with Lake Mary meeting Longwood Lyman at 6 p.m. It will be Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley taking on Sanford Seminole at 7 p.m. and Casselberry Lake Howell facing Oviedo at 8 p.m. Each team will play a 40-minute half.

The county coaches took different approaches to whom they considered the favorites for the coming season.

The consensus is that: Lyman has without a doubt two of the top offensive machines in the state while Lake Brantley, Lake Howell and Lake Mary figure to take a different approach since each owns an excellent goal keeper. Oviedo and Seminole do not have near the overall strength of the other four but individual quality is there.

Here's a capsule look at the six boys teams.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS LAKE BRANTLEY

Jim Brodie returns to coach the Patriots who were 23-3-1 last year when they finished second in the state.

''Our defense is our strength,'' Brodie said. ''I feel we will be as good if not better than last year with our defense.''

Brodie's view on his defense is brightened by returning keeper Aaron Kendall who recorded a school standard 15 shutouts last year.

In addition, Joe Pledger and Mike Shanahan are two other returning defenders who make Brodie feel good about his team's ability to stop people from scoring.

The Patriots will be also tough in the midfield area with veterans such as sweeper back Paul Ahrens along with Cory Sheffield, Chris McManus and Chad Marein. All but McManus are pure midfielders.

McManus may be called upon to take the lead at a forward spot along with newcomers Bob Skinner and Charles Pledger, Joe's twin brother. Skinner was the leading scorer on last year's junior varsity.

''It's going to be an interesting year,'' Brodie said. ''We have a tougher schedule. For us it's going to be more of a learning year. We've got to learn how to play together and do it quickly.''

LONGWOOD LYMAN

Ray Sandidge is elated at having Brian Ocasek and Pat Howard returning. Ocasek, considered one of the premier players in the state, scored 23 goals last year while Howard led the team with 25.

''I got 48 goals from those two last year and this year I'm hoping for 50 or 60,'' Sandidge said. ''But we've got to get some people who can get the ball up to them.''

Shailer Bowers, a sophomore defender, may be called upon to take the lead in the role of getting the ball to the Ocasek-Howard scoring machine.

Two other veteran defenders are Scott Kowalski and Matt Hughes. Hughes wrestled last year after playing soccer.

Paul Bontempo, who was injured all of last season, returns as a midfielder. Todd Hamilton, who was the Greyhounds' keeper last year, is being challenged for the starting job by freshman Kelly Walton. ''If there's one place we have a weakness it is in goal,'' Sandidge added. ''We hoping to improve on it this year.''

LAKE MARY

Larry McCorkle also lost much of his offensive punch of last year, and he is willing to admit it will be defense that wins games for him.

Greg Griffing, who posted 14 shutouts last year, returns in the cage for the Rams. ''Last year was Greg's first year as keeper,'' McCorkle said. ''We're looking for him to be even better with that year of experience.''

Solid returning defenders include Louis Rosen, Vinay Jotwani, Chris Riske and Scott Schmitt. The latter is only a sophomore who saw extensive duty as a freshman.

At midfield the Rams return Duran Richards and Pete Kinsley.

The Rams will not be totally without an offensive attack. They return Jerry Meyers, who scored 16 goals last season and Tony Fiorentino, who added 10 goals.

CASSELBERRY LAKE HOWELL

Lake Howell coach Norm Wight has perhaps the best mixture of veterans returning.

In senior Alex Skodnik he has one of the best keepers in Central Florida. And Eric Reesman will give the Hawks one of the most versatile performers as a center-forward.

Reeseman, like Lyman's Ocasek, is considered one of the top players in the South.

Sean Mackey is a returning midfielder and David Bird is a veteran stopper- back.

Wight expects juniors Brian Droze, Mark Gardberg and Ken Higgins to play important roles for the Silver Hawks early in the year as will freshman forward Al Ballaudo.

Ranked number 1 for five weeks last year, the Silver Hawks lost to Lake Mary in the semifinals of last year's district tournament.

''We've been working hard,'' Wight said. ''I'm looking for another fine year.''

OVIEDO

First-year coach Paul Katouskas will be trying to build the Oviedo program around two of the top players in Central Florida.

Gordon King, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound junior, is the Lions keeper and Greg Brick is one of the more talented forwards.

The Lions can be especially dangerous on their home field, which has smaller playing dimensions than other fields.

With King, who is the place kicker and punter in football, owning such a strong leg, he has the potential to reach Brick in the attack zone.

''Those two can play kick and catch,'' McCorkle said. ''It will create a problem for anyone playing in Oviedo.''

SANFORD SEMINOLE

Carlos Merlino is another first year coach in the county. He has the task of building the Seminole program. Once a county power years ago, the potential is certainly there.

Merlino, who hails from New Jersey, has Matt Albert as one of his standout players.